Can A Weight Lifter Burn Muscle Mass With Aerobics?

A great number of bodybuilders are confused regarding cardiovascular exercise, with some believing that such effort is helpful in controlling body fat, while others preferring the idea that aerobic exercise will in effect either risk muscle mass, or prevent future muscle building. The latter group's concern has forced many weight lifters to avoid cardiovascular exercise during muscle building periods, and even shy away from aerobic exercise when fat loss is the main focus, but for many, the question remains as to whether the cardiovascular exercise backlash is well founded, or if this idea is rather a part of weight lifting mythology.

Most weight lifters do realize the value of aerobic activity in fat loss, but the concern mounts when contemplating the impact on muscle mass, and this has forced certain weight lifters to replace moderately intense cardiovascular sessions with power walking, believing that this behavior is properly intense for fat burn, but beneath the threshold for muscle loss. I occasionally try to determine exactly where these notions originate, and a group of bodybuilders may have possibly felt so attracted to the idea of putting forth less effort (which occurs when comparing power walking to jogging), that they began spreading this rather illogical proposition, or, alternatively, a group of marketers may have decided to design a fitness program filled with attractive information, namely an easy to use routine that will encourage readers to purchase due to the magnificent effortless promises. Of course, such ideas have constantly proven themselves to be abysmal failures, offering horrid results. Yet, what bodybuilder does not enjoy the thought of suppressing effort and achieving superior progress? Taking this idea further, do you know of any bodybuilder who would reject an excuse to abandon cardiovascular exercise completely if he or she were convinced that doing so was helpful to muscle growth?

Yes, evil aerobics sounds appealing to a bodybuilder who is searching for less effort, and marketing is an industry where the senses are attacked to the point of emotional purchase, but the virtues taught decades ago are never replaced by modern marketing slogans, despite the effort of many exercise entrepreneurs to do so. The truth is, making aerobics seem harmful is an excellent method at encouraging a bodybuilder to invest financially in a particular fat loss and muscle building program, because every one of us feels a sense of intrigue at the idea of more down time producing enhanced progress, but this particular gimmick does not translate into results. Wherever the idea surfaced, marketers have used the "aerobics risks muscle mass" idea to promote their own products, despite the fact that cardiovascular exercise is not only effective in eliminating body fat when performed consistently and correctly, but does not harm muscle building.

All weight lifters realize that a physique will deteriorate in overall aesthetic beauty as body fat levels begin to increase, and conversely, will improve substantially as body fat declines. Therefore, any body fat control concept should be integrated at all times in order for the best possible weight lifting results, and if cardiovascular exercise is in fact an effective fat control method, then it behooves all who search for the best possible bodybuilding results to integrate cardiovascular exercise into their regular workout strategy.

The only exception to this rule is if a bodybuilder is primarily searching for muscle gain, and due to a hectic schedule or an emotional inability to accept sufficient workout time, he or she feels simply unable to sustain maximum intensity during weight training workouts when cardiovascular exercise is an additional burden; in such a scenario, aerobics can be saved for fat loss weeks only, when weight training workout volume declines. But for those who have the emotional fortitude to perform consistent cardiovascular exercise, integrating aerobics several days per week is effective, even during muscle building phases, as the less body fat that is produced during muscle gain, the more focus can be maintained on achieving new muscle growth, and the more definition a bodybuilder will experience throughout the year.

Therefore, despite the skeptics and marketing experts who may claim otherwise, cardiovascular exercise is helpful in fat loss, will not harm muscle mass when following an effective diet plan and weight training system, and will improve metabolic rate so that body fat percentage can remain acceptable at all times. If you are seeking maximum bodybuilding progress, then consider aerobics to be your trusty fat burning companion.

Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for building muscle mass without supplements or drugs. He also owns IncrediBody.com, an online fitness superstore selling exercise equipment at guaranteed lowest prices.